Geared towards growing the number of small family-run farms, particularly amongst minority and veterans turning to farming, farmers can borrow up to $35,000 as part of the program. According to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, one of the goals is to create more entrepreneurship and employment on farms. Starting small scale farmers out with government loans may help them over crucial hurdles in getting a farm running effectively and making them eligible for bigger loans in the future, said Vilsack.

The USDA has been increasing its loan program in recent years. In 2008 the agency gave out loans to 11,000 farmers and ranchers. In 2011 it was 15,000.

The loans are specifically targeted at the smaller farm operation, according to Vilsack, “It’s about making sure that we have diversity within agriculture, that we have a good blend of large production facilities, medium-sized operations and smaller operations,” Vilsack said. “It will help bolster the local and regional food system movement that is taking place.” Farms could even be in urban areas, a trend that’s growing all across major U.S. cities with city fruit and vegetable growers, beekeepers and even chicken farms thriving in urban areas such as Brooklyn and New York City. The number of growers who sell directly to the consumer via farmers markets has grown 60 percent in the last three years, according to Vilsack.

While the interest rates can change from month to month, they’re currently at just 1.25 percent and farmers have seven years to repay the loans.

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About Author

Jill Ettinger is the senior editor and featured columnist on EcoSalon and sister website Organic Authority. She is also the site co-director at Eat Drink Better. Jill is the director of social media for EcoSalon and Organic Authority.
Jill’s writing has been featured in The Village Voice, MTV, Reality Sandwich and Global Rhythm as well as the anthologies “Towards 2012: Perspectives on the Next Age” (2009, Tarcher/Penguin) and “What Do You Believe?” (2009, Outside the Box).
A focus on food policy, veganism, wellness, music and world cultural expressions, Jill blends the mystical and modern as she explores what our shifting food, fashion, culture and creative landscapes will look, sound and taste like in the future.
Jill spent more than a decade as a sales and marketing manager in the natural foods industry and regularly consults with and supports emerging brands and organizations in creative communication, social media and event production.
She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and future foodie, their daughter Imogene. Twitter @jillettinger | www.jillettinger.com.